In the good old days frequent fliers having purchased cheap fares, be they cheap airplane tickets or cheap vacation packages, could often simply ask the airlines for free upgrades when they checked in at the gate. Now airlines are starting to award upgrades more often based on customers who are the first to express a willingness to pay for the upgrades.
Purchasing an upgrade is usually simple, but finding out the availability of upgrades is often difficult. Often upgrades have disappeared except for savvy travelers who know how to book them in advance.
For example, if you want to purchase an upgrade from US Airways, you should call 800-428-4322 exactly 24 hours prior to your scheduled departure time.
Virgin American offers transcontinental economy seats for as little as $89 to $119 each way vs. paying over ten times as much for their first class seats. If you contact Virgin precisely six hours prior to takeoff (by calling 877-359-8474, or going online) you may be able to snag a upgrade on a coast to coast flight for $270.
The following are examples of airlines who offer discounted upgrades:
AirTran: Business Class seat, pay $49 to $129 per leg of your trip, can be purchased at time of check-in.
Midwest Airlines: Stretch Seat, pay $25 to $75, available when purchasing ticket.
Spirit: Big front seat, pay $25 and up, available when purchasing ticket or at gate.
US Airways: First Class or Envoy seat, pay $50 to $700 on international fares, can be purchased 24 hours before departure.
Virgin America: First Class seat, pay $70 to $270, 6 hours prior to departure.
Many airlines have started offering upgrades when passengers check in at airport kiosks. Travelers are far more likely to be offered such upgrades during non peak travel days and times.
www.cheapfares.com